I remember hating poetry as a student. It took one really special teacher to make it fun, and show me that, in poetry, nothing can truly be "wrong." I try to be that one teacher to my students, if they haven't already yet had that experience!
We started off our two-day lesson with a lesson in rhyme scheme. Riddle Poems are a great way to do this. The object of a riddle poem is to create a four-line poem in AABB format, each line giving a little clue to what the answer is. The students did a fabulous job with these poems! Here are some for your entertainment!
This sport is quite a graceful sight.
When you perform it, be real light.
Leotards, tights, and shoes you wear,
But remember to wear a bun in your hair.
What is it?
(Answer: Ballet)
by Grace, 3rd grade
This fruit is always red.
In a jam it can be spread.
It is very yummy.
It can fill your tummy.
What is it?
(Answer: a strawberry)
by Sophia, 3rd grade
When you score, you hear a sound
In this sport you skate around
To hit the puck, you use a stick
You play in the cold, so don't be sick!
What sport is this?
(Answer: hockey)
by Cody, 5th grade
This little device puts music in my ears
My favorite tunes I now can hear
I'm glad that in my pocket it'll fit
So I can listen while in the car I sit.
What is it?
(Answer: iPod)
by Kelly, 5th grade
It's red, white and blue
It has stars and stripes, too
It's the symbol of our land
It has the royal band
What is it?
(Answer: The American flag)
By Brandon, 4th grade
This item varies in subject, color, and size,
Information inside of it is often wise.
To use this item, at it you will stare,
As you turn its pages, handle it with care!
What is it?
(Answer: a book)
by Arushi, 5th grade
Next we got more serious and moved on to haikus, a non-rhymed genre that focuses on a syllable pattern of 5-7-5 while creating beautiful nature imagery. Getting an exact syllable count proved difficult for some, but we worked it out together. Here are a couple of particularly lovely haikus:
Standing on the beach
Feeling the sand between my toes
I move with the waves
by Annika, 4th grade
Waterfall
Flows then crashes down
An angry beast never calm
Then becomes peaceful
by Alex, 5th grade
The last poetry style of the day was a "Bio Poem." This is a wonderful fill-in-the-blank activity that allows the writer to forget about proper form and just focus on feelings and memories. For the most reluctant poetry writer, the Bio Poem is a big hit, because everybody is a poet with this format! Here is one of my favorites.
(Note: To protect the identity of my students, I have changed last names and cities.)
Katy
Kind, funny, friendly, exciting
Relative of Jack, Rachel, and Ariana
Lover of her mom, her dad, and her brother
Who feels happy when Buster curls up around her feet
Who feels sad when Jack is sick
Who feels mad when she gets into fights with my brother
Who needs her dog, her family, and her brother
Who fears spiders, heights, and snakes
Who gives love, hugs when necessary, and happiness
Who would like to see Taylor Swift live
Resident of Anytown
Smith
by Katy, 4th grade
Elika
Funny, kind, understanding, and stylish
Daughter of Nazila and Kamyar
Lover of friends, family, brownies, and her lap top
Who feels happy when she is around friends
Who feels sad when she has a lot of homework
Who feels mad when people annoy her
Who needs love, support, friends
Who fears spiders, tickling, and loneliness
Who gives kindness, love, and laughter
Who would like to see her family in Italy more often
Resident of AnyCity
Jones
by Vionna, 4th grade
Then with my older groups, I did a lesson focusing on five poetic tools:
end line rhyme- rhyme at the end of a line
internal line rhyme- rhyme in the middle of a line
repetition- words repeated (3-4 times is best)
alliteration- two or more words close together that start with the same sound
onomatopoeia- words that sound like their meaning
The goal I put forth for my students was to use at least 2 tools in an 8+ line poem of their own. A few students were able to use all five! Arushi (5th grade) was one of them: (See if you can find them!)
Puppies
Three little bundles of fur
Frisking around, they go "Grrr!"
Splish! Splash! In the river they go!
Others join in, their owners in tow.
These puppies are having fun
Play play play! After dark they'll be done.
In the water, they spot a fish
Hoping to make it into a lovely dish.
They leap into the deep
And land in a small heap
They get up and lie down, their snores like purrs,
These three playful little bundles of fur.
I love it! Sometimes when students attempt to use all five tools, the poem sounds forced. Arushi's was natural, had a good flow, and included such sweet imagery.
